Rail-sanding mechanism



June 29 1926.

W. C. ARMSTRONG RAIL SANDING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 25, 1926 Patented June 29, 1926.

PATENT oFFicE.

WILLIAM, o.- Aa sTRoNG, or n rmuom ,"ILLInoIs.

V v RAIL-SANDING arinara:sin.

Application filed February 25, 1926.; Serial No. 90,470. V

This invenion relates to sanding devices for track vehicles and the object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple and practical mechanism for feeding a sandedtape upon the'l track in advance of the wheels of the vehicle and between the wheels and track, thereby preventing slipping of the wheels upon wet rails.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a frontal section of a street car showing this device as mounted in place under the platform in advance of the front truck;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the device removed from the car, sections of the casing being broken away to show certain interior parts;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section on the line H in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a detail of thetape follower tube.

The invention includes a casing 1 having a segmental wheel way 2 formed therein, the curvature of the inner periphery of which corresponds to the curvature of the periphery of a turbine wheel 3. The turbine wheel 3 is provided with peripheral air vanes 4, and is rigidly mounted upon a 30 shaft 5 which is journaled in the sides of the wheel way 2. A tape spool 6 is rigidly mounted upon an extended end of the shaft 5 at one side of the casing 1, and upon this spool is wound a roll 7 of sanded tape. A flat tape tube 8 has its upper end fastened to the side of the casing 1, vertically under the shaft 5, and at this upper end of the tube two rollers 9 are journaled on pins 10. Upon that one of the pins 10 which is located upon the receiving and delivery side of the roll 7 is pivotally mounted a flat tape follower tube 11, and a spiral spring 12, having its ends fastened at the points 13 to the tube 11 and casing 1,serves the double purpose of brake upon the roll 7 to prevent the too rapid unwinding of the tape, and as a guide for the said tape down into the tube 8. The assembly as described is mounted within a suitable housing 14 and this housing is secured up under the platform 15 of the car 16 immediately in front of one of the front wheels 17 of the car 16. The tube 8 is extended down to a point immediately in advance of the wheel 17 and above the rail 18, and the lower end 19 of the tube 8 is curved somewhat backward towards the wheel so as to ensure the delivery of the tape between the tread of the wheel and the rail. An air pipe 20 leads from the compressed air tank (not shown) of'the car, forwardly and horizontally through the casing l, and connects tangentially with the periphery of the wheel way 2. Below the air pipe 20 a knife way 21 passes perpendicularly through the tube 8, and an air cylinder 22 is mounted at the end of this knife way 21. A piston 23 slides in the cylinder,

the said piston carrying a knife blade 24:

adapted to traverse the knife way 21 transversely through the tube 8. A spiral spring 25 acts to normally withdraw the knife 24 from traversing the tube 8. At the opposite end of the cylinder 22 is connected an air pipe 26, and the air pipes 20 and 26 are led into a two way air-valve 27 designed to direct the air through either the branch 20 or the branch 26 upon the proper turning of the valve; or the valve may be turned so as to shut the air from either tube. V

In operation, when it is desired to run the tape out and down to the car wheel, the

air is fed throught the pipe 20 and bearing.

upon the vanes 4 rotates the turbine wheel 3, thereby unrolling the tape 7 and forcing it down through the tube 8 to the car wheel. When it is desired to stop the feeding of the tape, the air is shunted through the pipe 26 which acts upon the piston 23 and projects the knife 24 to the tape 7, thereby severing the tape. The valve 27 is then turned to its neutral position.

While I have herein described a certain specific manner and method of constructing and assembling the elements of my invention, it is understood that I may vary from the same in minor details, not departing from the spirit of my invention, so as best to construct a practical devicefor the purpose intended, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

' 1. A device of the kind described, comprising the combination with a vehicle movmg upon rails, of a casing mounted on the vehicle in advance of a front wheel, the said casing having a wheel-way; an air turbine rotatively mounted upon a shaft in the wheel-way; a tape spool upon the extended Wheel way of the turbine easing; a ta tube leading from the under side of t e tape spool-to a point above the track rail in advance of the front Wheel; a knife Way arranged transversely through the tape tube; a spring set air piston at the end of,

' air turbine; a tape spool mounted upon the extended end of the turbine; a. roll of sanded tape on the said spool; a spring set tapewfollower tube pivotally mounted below theaxis of the tape spool and adapted to frictionally bear upon the periphery of the tape roll and to lead the tape from the roll; a tape 'tubeleading downward from the said tape follower tube; controlled means for supplying compressed air to the airturbine;

and means for severing the tape. passing through the tape tube. V Y

In testimony whereof I aflix my signaturer.

WVILLIAM O. ARMSTRONG. 

